Gov't says 'contempt ruling' inapplicable to Argentina

Anticipating what seems an imminent order of contempt-of-court by US Judge Thomas Griesa following President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s decision to push a bill to change the payment jurisdiction to Buenos Aires, Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich pointed out that as a “sovereign country” Argentina cannot end up in contempt despite Griesa’s warnings.

“When they talk of contempt, they fail to see that Argentina is sovereign and has sovereign immunity,” Capitanich said in his daily press briefing at the government house. In the past weeks, Griesa has threatened the government with a contempt-of-court ruling and has specifically warned against a change of debt’s jurisdiction, which he said would be considered a breach of the ruling.

Asked about the consequences of such ruling, the chief of ministers said they “should be explained by the judge” because a contempt order “does not apply to a sovereign country as the Argentine Republic.”

Meanwhile, Capitanich also blasted “big concentrated transnational groups” seeking to “impose conditions to go back to vicious circle of debt and permanent extortion Argentina has suffered.”